Quick question: if you had to choose your 5 most essential shop tools when it comes to making & designing on an everyday basis, which ones would you choose? I'm just looking for general answers (like a table saw, drill, etc.) but if you want to suggest a specific brand or model you're more than welcome to share that too!

A lot can be accomplished with hand tools. As a student, or amateur on a budget, buying a Ryobi multi-tool kit with a Drill, Circular Saw, and Jig Saw will allow you to make just about anything with some clever jigs for cutting things accurately. That's all I've got for now at home, and I get by. But, my future plans are to buy the following shop tools (more tailored for wood working):

- Spray paint, the graffiti brands get you a long way- X-acto knife. I also have a complete kit with interchangeable blades, never use it, just stick with the classic- Tweezers (Sparkfun has the best one)- Rotary tool (some German brands like Parkside are almost as good as Dremel)- Foam core board